Anthem Executive Leading President Search for the University of Montevallo
March 31, 2026 – Anthem Executive was recently retained by the University of Montevallo (UM) to lead in its search for its next president. Terry Roberson is currently served as interim president. Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy are leading the search. The next president will inherit an institution with a proud mission, deeply committed faculty and staff, and a strong foundation on which to build—while also facing clear opportunities to strengthen financial sustainability, enrollment, trust, and institutional confidence.
“This is not a maintenance presidency,” the job specification said. “Rather, it is an opportunity to lead a period of stabilization, renewal, and strategic repositioning in a manner that preserves Montevallo’s liberal arts identity while preparing the University for long-term success.”
The successful candidate will be a collaborative, trust-building leader who communicates with clarity and credibility, respects shared governance, and is willing to make thoughtful, sometimes difficult decisions in service of the institution’s mission. The president must be an effective partner to the board of trustees, a visible and authentic presence on campus, and a persuasive advocate for the University with alumni, donors, community leaders, and state stakeholders.
The university seeks a president who can align people, resources, and strategy; strengthen enrollment, fundraising, and external partnerships through disciplined execution; and restore pride and confidence across the campus community. For the right leader, this presidency offers a rare opportunity to shape the future of a distinctive public liberal arts institution and to leave a meaningful, lasting legacy.
Founded in 1896, the University of Montevallo is Alabama’s only public liberal arts university, located near the geographical center of the state in Montevallo. Home to 2,600 students, UM offers more than 30 degree programs with approximately 70 major/concentration combinations and more than 15 graduate programs across five distinct colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Education and Human Development, Fine Arts and Health Professions.
Serving a Range of Business Sectors
Anthem Executive, headquartered in Houston, TX, serves clients across a range of business sectors, including higher education, health sciences, corporate and non-profit institutions, global software and technology, private equity, insurance, service and manufacturing, oil and gas, and others. Its consultants bring a combined 80 years’ experience in the search industry. The firm’s higher education practice spans the entire leadership spectrum. In other sectors, Anthem Executive covers all roles from CEO and other C-suite leaders, board directors, vice president, and directors, among others.
Mr. Ballew, a registered Native American and member of the Echota Cherokee Tribe, serves as the firm’s chief diversity, inclusion, equity, and compliance officer, as well as search committee facilitator. He joined the executive search industry 14 years ago following a 20-plus year career in senior-level management with expertise in recruiting, counseling, training, operations, strategic planning, facilitation, project management, and workplace diversity.
Related: Anthem Executive Assists Texas A&M International University with President Search
Mr. Watson has been in the executive search industry for over 30 years. In addition to higher education institutions, he has served hospital/health systems, global software and technology companies, private equity enterprises, MCOs, insurance companies, service and manufacturing organizations with global footprints, and others.
Anthem Executive Assists Northwest Missouri State University with Provost Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Rose Marie Ward as the new provost and vice president for academic affairs of Northwest Missouri State University. “We are delighted to welcome Rose Marie to the Northwest team,” said Lance Tatum, president. “Her depth of experience and professional background will be a tremendous asset to our institution.” Dr. Ward comes to Northwest after serving most recently as special assistant to the provost and a professor of psychology at the University of Cincinnati, which she joined in 2022. She also served there as vice provost of graduate education and dean of the graduate college.
Mr. Wheless, a veteran of more than two decades in the search industry, has served a broad portfolio of clients across many industry lines on behalf of organizations ranging from small operations to Fortune $100 billion plus enterprises – including working with and recruiting some of the nation’s most influential leadership. Mr. Wheless has served institutions and organizations across a broad range of geographies and sectors in higher education, technology, healthcare, energy, financial services, law, insurance, hospitality and food services, retail, CPG, EPC, manufacturing, aerospace, mining, construction, and real estate.
Ms. Stawowy, who has been in executive search for over 20 years, is a core member of the higher education and academic health practice. Over the last two decades, she has developed deep expertise in senior‐level search, having been charged with numerous executive leadership transitions with a particular emphasis on higher education and academic health search.
Related: Anthem Executive Seeking CEO for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
